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Hibernian were today closing in on Dutch defender Shelton Martis after he turned down the offer of a new two-year deal by his current club, Darlington. However, Easter Road boss Tony Mowbray was remaining tight-lipped on the prospect of signing the 23-year-old, adhering to the clubs policy of refusing to comment on transfer speculation.

But, according to reports in the north-east of England, Martis is Edinburgh-bound following an impressive first season in which he was named the League Two clubs player-of-the-year. Darlington boss David Hodgson, a former team-mate of Mowbrays at Middlesbrough, snapped up 6ft 2in Martis last summer even although his first appearance in a trial match against Boro was ended at half-time by a bomb scare.

Born in Willemstad in Curacao, part of the Dutch Antilles, Martis played for FC Eindhoven and Excelsior Rotterdam, Feyenoords satellite team, in Holland before his move, on a free transfer, to Darlington. There he played in more than 40 matches last season and, operating on a week-to-week contract, featured in Darlingtons opening two matches of the current campaign, a 4-0 win over Macclesfield followed by a 2-0 victory over Accrington Stanley.

Mowbray was said to have been at the Fraser Eagle Stadium on Tuesday night to cast an eye over Martis who is said to be quick, strong in the air and a good reader of the game. Hodgson is resigned to losing Martis, who now looks certain to be Mowbrays third signing of the summer although the clubs are understood to be in negotiation over a transfer fee given he wont be 24 until November.

Darlington had been hoping to secure a sum of £250,000 had he moved on to another English club although, it is understood, Martis had a deal which would have allowed him to return to Holland on a free transfer. It appears, however, that Hibs will have to pay little more than a nominal sum.

Hodgson, meanwhile, said today: "I phoned Sheltons agent to offer him an improved deal. He then turned round and told me Shelts had joined Hibs. Fantastic professionalism. We will see what Hibs offer and if it goes to a tribunal so be it."